If the team rule is, "traveling with the team is mandatory," which it is, he must comply. Remember that whole, "the employer sets the rules," thing you wanted to argue about? There it is in writing. Please don't respond with, "it doesn't say you have to fly" or "how do you know flying is a team rule?" It says the team gets to set the rules. There wouldn't be an issue if driving to games wasn't a problem.

EDIT: Even if traveling with the team isn't mandatory, the Rockets would need assurance that White can show up on time for meetings, practice, etc. And there will be times he HAS to fly. That's really what's going on.

So you know the team rules of the rockets. And one of them is its mandatory to fly with the team?